Nozzle And Container For Dispensing A Liquid

ABSTRACT

A tip for dispensing liquid for mounting on a container. A valve includes at least two elements that are mobile in relation to one another, each mobile element including a bearing zone against the other mobile element. One of the mobile elements bears anti-microbial material on or in the immediate proximity of a part of its bearing zone forming a blocking barrier and all surfaces of the dispensing tip in contact with the inside are free of anti-microbial material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns the field of liquid dispensing, especially inthe form of drops, in the pharmaceutical field, for example ophthalmicliquid, but also in any other field such as in the cosmetics or foodsectors.

In particular, the invention concerns the dispensing ofpreservative-free liquid, in the form of drops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The current trend is to supply products, especially ophthalmic products,that do not contain preservatives. The sterility of the product mustthus be guaranteed throughout the use of the bottle containing theliquid to be delivered.

From document WO92/01625, various devices are known that enable thedelivery of drops of product contained in a reservoir and which preventcontamination of the liquid remaining in the bottle.

According to one example, such a liquid dispensing device includes areservoir and a dispensing tip mounted on the reservoir, provided with aliquid dispensing opening. The dispensing tip comprises a valve whichallows liquid to exit but prevents it from entering, which limits therisk of introducing bacteria or contaminating substances into thebottle. Such a valve is also referred to as a “check valve”. The userapplies pressure to the reservoir causing it to become deformed and,under the effect of pressure, a drop passes through the valve and formson the surface of the dispensing opening. The valve closes once thedesired quantity of drops is delivered.

A problem with this type of device is that although the valve closes, asmall residual quantity of product remains on the surface of the tipafter the dosed drop or drops are delivered and this small residualquantity of product may be the point from which contamination may spreadinto the bottle.

This propagation is a surprising phenomena which contradicts theoperating principle of the valve, but which the inventors behind thisinvention have highlighted.

A posteriori, the inventors explain this phenomenon by the fact that theposition of the boundary between the inside and the outside of thebottle is not fixed on the valve, but moves, over the course ofsuccessive openings and closings, around an average position. As aresult, in the areas surrounding this boundary, there are adjacent areasthat are sometimes inside or outside the bottle, i.e. outside theboundary, and sometimes included within this boundary.

After several opening-closing manoeuvres, the contaminations can find apath of slow migration via these adjacent zones, first from the outsideof the bottle toward the boundary, then from the boundary toward theinside of the bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a liquiddispensing valve that ensures that contamination does not spread insidethe bottle.

In this respect, an object of the invention is a liquid dispensing tipfor mounting on a container, said tip comprising a valve which, in restposition, seals off the container by separating an upstream volume froma downstream volume, said valve being able to withstand openingmanoeuvres by elastic deformation, said valve comprising at least twoelements that are mobile in relation to each other, each mobile elementincluding a bearing zone against the other mobile element, arranged sothat, when the valve is in rest position, the bearing zones of themobile elements bear at least partially against one another forming asurface barrier separating the upstream volume from the downstreamvolume, at least one of the two mobile elements being such that afterone or several opening manoeuvres, said surface barrier no longer coversthe same part of the bearing zone of at least one of the mobileelements, characterised in that at least one of the mobile elementsbears an anti-microbial material on or in the immediate proximity of apart of its bearing zone which is covered by the surface barrier, and inthat the entire surface of the dispensing tip in contact with theupstream volume when the valve is in rest position is free ofanti-microbial material.

Within the meaning of the invention, “in the immediate proximity” meansthat the distance between the bearing zone and the anti-microbialmaterial is less than 3 mm, and preferably, less than 1 mm. It isimportant that this distance is small in order to prevent proliferationor displacement of bacteria into the downstream volume. It is known thatbacteria can reproduce very rapidly in favourable conditions. Inaddition, certain bacteria are able to move at surprising speeds, forexample 2 mm per minute, hence the importance of preventing the presenceof bacteria in the immediate vicinity of the valve in order to preventthem from entering the container.

According to other features of the invention, which may be consideredalone or in combination:

-   -   the anti-bacterial material is present in the form of a layer        which covers at least partially the bearing zone of one of the        mobile elements,    -   the anti-bacterial material is present in the form of an excess        thickness protruding from the bearing zone of one of the mobile        elements,    -   the excess thickness substantially occupies the thickness of an        opening of the valve,    -   one of the mobile elements has undergone an anti-bacterial        treatment on part of its thickness,    -   one of the mobile elements is co-moulded with anti-bacterial        material,    -   one of the mobile elements comprises an insert,    -   the insert is made from bulk anti-bacterial material,    -   the insert is coated externally by a layer of anti-bacterial        material,    -   only the face of the insert turned toward the outside is coated        with a layer of anti-bacterial material,    -   the insert is flush with the bearing zone of the mobile element,    -   the insert protrudes from the bearing zone of the mobile element        so as to form a pin passing through an opening of the valve,    -   one of the mobile elements is coated, on a face bearing the        anti-bacterial material, with a layer of non anti-bacterial        insulating material in its parts located upstream from the        valve,    -   one of the mobile elements is a sealing pin substantially        cylindrical in shape and the other mobile element is a membrane        comprising a cylindrical part capping the pin and leaving an        annular gap around it forming a flow channel, the surface        barrier having a substantially annular shape.

Another object of the invention is a liquid dispensing containercomprising a reservoir on which a dispensing tip is mounted as describedabove, and notably a container for dispensing ophthalmic liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention shall be better understood upon reading the followingdescription, which does not limit the scope of the invention in any wayand is provided only as an example with reference to the followingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention,

FIGS. 2a to 2d represent, individually and in perspective, variouscomponents of the device,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, in a larger scale, of region III ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the washer of FIG. 3,

FIGS. 5 to 28 are views similar to FIG. 3, illustrating alternativeembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a tip 10 for dispensing liquid in the form of a drop, forscrew mounting onto the neck 13 of a reservoir (of which only the neck13 is visible in FIG. 1). This reservoir is a storage reservoir for aliquid, for example pharmaceutical liquid such as ophthalmic liquid. Asalready known, the reservoir is deformable and can be compressed toinitiate dispensing of the liquid. More precisely, the liquid isdispensed by pressure, applied by a user, on the body of the reservoir,the latter having a certain elasticity to enable it to return to itsinitial shape after the pressure is released.

In this example, the dispensing tip 10 comprises a support 14, amembrane 16 equipped with a dispensing opening 58, a spring 17, an outerenvelope 18, a flow channel 38 for passing liquid from the reservoirtoward the dispensing tip 58 and a channel 44 for allowing air into thereservoir, channel 44 which is plugged by an air-permeable sterilisingcomponent 46 that is not described here.

In this example, the support 14 comprises a fastening part 24 to thereservoir, placed at the proximal end of the support 14. The part 24comprises an external skirt including a screw thread enabling it to bescrewed onto the neck 13 of the reservoir. The fastening part 24 alsoincludes a tubular-shaped internal skirt 26, enabling it to ensure theseal between the reservoir and the dispensing tip 10.

Furthermore, the support 14 includes a central sealing pin 34,essentially cylindrical in shape and extending in the distal direction,opposite to the internal skirt 26. The pin 34 comprises, on its distalend, a bearing zone 36 of the pin 34 against the membrane 16 whichblocks the flow of liquid in blocking configuration. In this example,the bearing zone 36 has an annular rib shape.

In this example, the support 14 also comprises a housing 20 forming acavity that is essentially cylindrical in shape, this cavity opening tothe reservoir at its proximal end and opening to the liquid flow channel38 at its distal end, provide for in the support 14 and extending in thelongitudinal direction of the device, corresponding to the direction ofejection. Channel 38 opens to an intermediate cavity 22, itself openingto a second liquid flow channel 42.

The membrane 16 is part a revolving part with special geometry, whosenon-relevant details, with regard to the invention, will not bedescribed here. The membrane 16 includes a cylindrical part 48 cappingthe pin 34 leaving an annular gap around it forming the aforementionedsecond channel 42 and, at the distal end of this cylindrical part 48, awasher 54 provided with a central opening 56 forming the small base of acone frustum open toward the outside, whose large base corresponds tothe dispensing opening 58 of the membrane. The washer 54 is formed in asingle piece with the cylindrical part 48. Its internal face 55 rests onthe bearing zone 36 of the pin, owing to the action of the spring 17which pushes the cylindrical part 48 downward while exerting pressure ona seat 53 formed at the base of the cylindrical part 48. Owing to aflexible zone 52, the membrane 16 may deform in order to allow itscylindrical part 48 to slide axially around the pin 34. The internalface 55 forms a bearing zone of the membrane 16 against the pin 36.Subject to deformation of the membrane 16, the bearing zone 55 of thewasher 54 may lift off the bearing zone 36 of the pin and open a passagebetween the inside and the outside of the device. This thus how productdispensing is rendered possible: pressure exerted on the walls of thebottle cause the pressure of the liquid to increase, which pushes on themembrane 16 and moves apart the membranes 16 and the pin 34 and allowsthe liquid to reach the dispensing opening 58. In normal conditions ofuse of the device, no circumstance other than that of overpressure inthe liquid is foreseen so that the washer 54 lifts off the bearing zone36. Membrane 16 and pin 34 thus form two elements, that are mobile inrelation to one another, of a valve separating an upstream volume from adownstream volume, a valve which prevents the liquid which left theinside of the device, i.e. flowing from the upstream volume to thedownstream volume, from returning in the device.

This valve is represented in a larger scale in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It can be seen that, when the valve is in rest position, thus closed,the separation between the upstream volume and the downstream volume isensured by a surface barrier extending, on the bearing zone 36 side,over this entire zone, and, on the washer 54 side, over the part of theinternal face 55 that is in contact with the bearing zone 36.

But as the centering of the washer 54 in relation to the bearing zone 36is ensured only the elasticity of the membrane 16, by dint of successiveopenings and closings, the fatigue of the membrane 16 or any otherdisturbance of the equilibrium of the forces within the membrane mayresult in the washer 54 not returning exactly to the same position onthe bearing zone 36. Thus, at micrometric or less scale, although in anycase greater than the magnitude of the bacteria likely to contaminatethe liquid, the blocking surface barrier moves, at least on the internalface side 55 of the washer 54, around an average theoretical positionand leaves, in the area around these edges, adjoining zones which aresometimes inside or outside the dispensing device, i.e. excluded fromthe surface barrier, sometimes included in this surface barrier.

In FIG. 4, the surface barrier, which corresponds to the surface onwhich the bearing zone 55 and the bearing zone 36 touch, is shown by ashaded ring 100 in a first closed position of the valve. After a fewopenings and closings, this ring takes another position 102, drawn withshort and long dashes. Then, after another a few openings and closings,the ring takes still another position 104, drawn in dotted lines.

It can be seen that if a bacterium was lodged in a location 106 of thebearing zone 55 located in the immediate vicinity of the surface barrierin position 102, i.e. in the downstream volume, when the barrier wouldtake position 100, the bacterium would no longer be in the downstreamvolume of the valve, but in the surface barrier, where it could migratecloser and closer, each time the valve is opened, until it reachedlocation 108 located in the surface barrier in position 100, but in theupstream volume if the surface barrier assumes the position 104. Thebacterium would have thus reached the inside of the container and couldcontaminate all the liquid that it contains.

The bearing zone 36 is coated with a layer 110 of anti-bacterialmaterial, silver ion-based in this example, which prevents anyproliferation of bacteria in the immediate vicinity of the surfacebarrier. Thus, even if a bacterium manages to attach itself to thelocation 106 when the surface barrier is in position 102, it will not beable to survive if it is located, by displacement of the surface barrierin position 100 or 104, in contact with the anti-bacterial layer of thebearing zone 36 in position 104. The anti-bacterial layer thusefficiently fulfils its function to prevent the influx into the upstreamvolume of contaminants for the liquid present in the reservoir.

The anti-bacterial layer is not present on any surface of the membrane16 or support 14 in contact with the liquid upstream from the valve, sothat no chemical reaction detrimental to the liquid occurs in thisupstream volume.

Other alternative embodiments procuring the same protective effects arerepresented in FIGS. 5 to 28. In these figures, the pin 34′ does nothave an annular rib but includes a flat upper face including the bearingzone 36′. The surface barrier is still a ring, this time extending fromthe peripheral edge of the pin to the edge of the opening 56′ of thewasher 54′. The cone frustum of the previous figures, between openings56 and 58, is replaced by a spherical portion joining the openings 56′and 58′, but still defines a dead volume of liquid downstream from thevalve. For clarity reasons, the reference numbers 36′, 54′, 56′, 58′were not indicated on FIGS. 6 to 28, on which it is easy to recognisethe corresponding elements that are identical.

In FIG. 5, the anti-bacterial layer 115 covers the entire upper face ofthe pin 34′. It may thus act against bacteria that may have slid intothe surface barrier and against bacteria developing in the residualvolume of the liquid present in the downstream dead volume, near theopening 56′.

In FIG. 6, the anti-bacterial layer 116 covers the part of the upperface of the pin 34′ located opposite the opening 56′.

In FIG. 7, the anti-bacterial layer 117 forms an excess thicknessprotruding from the upper face of the pin 34′ and occupies the entirethickness of the opening 56′.

In FIG. 8, the pin 34′ has undergone anti-bacterial treatment over apart 118 of its thickness, in a central region excluding the edges ofits upper face.

In FIG. 9, the pin 34′ is co-moulded with anti-bacterial material, orcomprises an insert 119 made of bulk anti-bacterial material, present ina central region of its upper face excluding the edges of this face andflush with said face.

In FIG. 10, the pin 34′ comprises an insert 120 coated by aanti-bacterial material layer on the outside, lodged in a central regionof its upper face excluding the edges of this face.

In FIG. 11, the insert 121 is nearly identical but is coated only on itsface turned toward the outside.

In FIG. 12, the pin 34′ comprises a insert 122 made of bulkanti-bacterial material, present in a central region of its upper faceopposite the opening 56′ and protruding from said face so as to form apin passing through the opening 56′.

In FIG. 13, the pin 34′ comprises an insert 123 whose shape is identicalto the previous insert but co-moulded with the pin 34′.

In FIG. 14, the pin 34′ comprises an insert 124 nearly identical to thatof FIG. 12 but only coated with anti-bacterial material on its externalfaces.

In FIG. 15, the anti-bacterial layer 125 is present on the washer 54, inits part opposite the pin 34′, excluding the part of the washer oppositethe peripheral edge of the pin 34′.

In FIG. 16, the anti-bacterial layer 126 extends, in addition to that ofFIG. 15, onto the edge of the spherical cavity and even beyond theopening 58′.

In FIG. 17, the anti-bacterial layer 127 extends only on the edge of thespherical cavity and beyond the opening 58′.

In FIG. 18, the anti-bacterial layer 128 forms an excess thicknessprotruding from the washer, excluding opening 58′, opposite the bearingzone of the pin 34′ except for the peripheral edge of the latter.

In FIG. 19, the anti-bacterial layer 129 has the same shape aspreviously but is co-moulded with the washer or results from ananti-bacterial treatment of the washer on a part of its thickness,except for its part opposite the peripheral edge of the pin 34′.

In FIG. 20, the anti-bacterial layer 130 has the same shape aspreviously but is an insert coated externally by a layer ofanti-bacterial material.

In FIG. 21, the anti-bacterial layer 131 is a solid double thickness ofthe membrane, giving it its external shape and covering its part cappingthe pin 34′.

In FIG. 22, the membrane is integrally coated with a layer ofanti-bacterial material and this layer is itself coated with aninsulation layer 132 made of non anti-bacterial material in its partslocated upstream from the valve, apart from the external edge of the pin34′.

In FIG. 23, the membrane consists largely of anti-bacterial material andis covered with an insulation layer 133 made of non anti-bacterialmaterial in its parts located upstream from the valve, apart from theexternal edge of the pin 34′.

In FIG. 24, the pin 34′ consists of anti-bacterial material and iscovered by an insulation layer 134 made of non anti-bacterial materialin its parts located upstream from the valve.

In FIG. 25, the pin 34′ is coated by an anti-bacterial material and isitself coated by an insulation layer 135 made of non anti-bacterialmaterial in its parts located upstream from the valve.

All the possible combinations of these variants are possible, as long asthey fall within the definition of the invention.

For example, the characteristics of the alternative embodiments of FIGS.8 and 17 were combined in FIG. 26. In FIG. 27, the characteristics ofthe alternative embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 18 were combined and, in FIG.28, the characteristics of the alternative embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 17were combined.

It is understood that the examples of embodiment described do not limitthe scope of the invention and that other variants and combinations ofvariants are possible.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid dispensing tip for mounting on a container, said tip comprising a valve which, in rest position, seals off the container by separating an upstream volume from a downstream volume, said valve being able to withstand opening manoeuvres by elastic deformation, said valve comprising a support and a membrane that is mobile in relation to the support, each of the support and the membrane including a bearing zone against each other, arranged so that, when the valve is in rest position, the bearing zones of the support and the membrane bear at least partially against one another forming a surface barrier separating the upstream volume from the downstream volume, at least one of the support or the membrane being such that after one or several opening manoeuvres, said surface barrier no longer covers the same part of the bearing zone of at least one of the support or the membrane, said tip further comprising an antimicrobial material on the membrane, the anti-microbial material being only on the bearing zone of the membrane or on the membrane in the immediate proximity of its bearing zone, such that the entire surface of the dispensing tip in contact with the upstream volume when the valve is in rest position is free of anti-microbial material, wherein the membrane comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the outer layer includes the anti-microbial material and the inner layer is free of antimicrobial material, the outer layer surrounding a distal end of the inner layer and contacting the support in the bearing zone.
 2. The tip according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer of the membrane including the anti-microbial material forms a spherical cavity with an opening.
 3. The tip according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer of the membrane including the anti-microbial material forms a spherical cavity with an opening, the outer layer covering the spherical cavity and extending into the opening.
 4. The tip according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the membrane or the support is co-moulded with antimicrobial material.
 5. The tip according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the membrane or the support has undergone an antimicrobial treatment on part of its thickness.
 6. The tip according to claim 1, wherein the support includes a part, including antimicrobial material, located only in a central region of the support excluding edges of an upper face of the support.
 7. The tip according to claim 1, wherein the tip further comprising an anti-microbial material on the support, wherein the support is a sealing pin substantially cylindrical in shape and the membrane comprises a cylindrical part capping the pin and leaving an annular gap around it forming a flow channel, and wherein the surface barrier has a substantially annular shape, the anti-microbial material being a layer present on an upper face of the support.
 8. A liquid dispensing tip for mounting on a container, said tip comprising a valve which, in rest position, seals off the container by separating an upstream volume from a downstream volume, said valve being able to withstand opening manoeuvres by elastic deformation, said valve comprising a support and a membrane that is mobile in relation to the support, each of the support and the membrane including a bearing zone against each other, arranged so that, when the valve is in rest position, the bearing zones of the support and the membrane bear at least partially against one another forming a surface barrier separating the upstream volume from the downstream volume, at least one of the support or the membrane being such that after one or several opening manoeuvres, said surface barrier no longer covers the same part of the bearing zone of at least one of the support or the membrane, said tip further comprising an anti-microbial material on at least one of the support or the membrane, the anti-microbial material being only on the bearing zone of the at least one of the support or the membrane, or on the at least one of the support or the membrane in the immediate proximity of its bearing zone, such that the entire surface of the dispensing tip in contact with the upstream volume when the valve is in rest position is free of anti-microbial material, wherein the membrane comprises a spherical cavity and an anti-microbial layer extending on the edge of the spherical cavity.
 9. The tip according to claim 8, wherein the membrane comprises a washer provided with a central opening, the anti-microbial layer being present on the washer, in its part opposite the support, excluding the part of the washer opposite a peripheral edge of the support.
 10. The tip according to claim 8, wherein the anti-bacterial layer extends on the edge of the spherical cavity and beyond the opening.
 11. The tip according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the membrane or the support is co-moulded with antimicrobial material.
 12. The tip according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the membrane or the support has undergone an antimicrobial treatment on part of its thickness.
 13. The tip according to claim 8, wherein the support includes a part, including antimicrobial material, located only in a central region of the support excluding edges of an upper face of the support.
 14. The tip according to claim 8, wherein the tip further comprising an anti-microbial material on the support, wherein the support is a sealing pin substantially cylindrical in shape and the membrane comprises a cylindrical part capping the pin and leaving an annular gap around it forming a flow channel, and wherein the surface barrier has a substantially annular shape, the anti-microbial material being a layer present on an upper face of the support.
 15. A liquid dispensing tip for mounting on a container, said tip comprising a valve which, in rest position, seals off the container by separating an upstream volume from a downstream volume, said valve being able to withstand opening manoeuvres by elastic deformation, said valve comprising a support and a membrane that is mobile in relation to the support, each of the support and the membrane including a bearing zone against each other, arranged so that, when the valve is in rest position, the bearing zones of the support and the membrane bear at least partially against one another forming a surface barrier separating the upstream volume from the downstream volume, at least one of the support or the membrane being such that after one or several opening manoeuvres, said surface barrier no longer covers the same part of the bearing zone of at least one of the support or the membrane, said tip further comprising an anti-microbial material on at least one of the support or the membrane, the anti-microbial material being only on the bearing zone of the at least one of the support or the membrane or on the at least one of the support or the membrane in the immediate proximity of its bearing zone, such that the entire surface of the dispensing tip in contact with the upstream volume when the valve is in rest position is free of anti-microbial material, wherein the anti-microbial material is present in the form of an excess thickness protruding from the bearing zone of one of the support or the membrane.
 16. The tip according to claim 15, wherein the excess thickness substantially occupies the thickness of an opening of the valve.
 17. The tip according to claim 15, at least one of membrane or the support is co-moulded with material.
 18. The tip according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the membrane or the support has undergone an antimicrobial treatment on part of its thickness.
 19. The tip according to claim 15, wherein the support includes a part, including antimicrobial material, located only in a central region of the support excluding edges of an upper face of the support.
 20. The tip according to claim 15, wherein the tip further comprising an anti-microbial material on the support, wherein the support is a sealing pin substantially cylindrical in shape and the membrane comprises a cylindrical part capping the pin and leaving an annular gap around it forming a flow channel, and wherein the surface barrier has a substantially annular shape, the anti-microbial material being a layer present on an upper face of the support. 